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College of Arts and Sciences Commencement Address, Morning

Joy Jordan

(BA '08) • Founder, Fortem Voluntas  

Joy Jordan is a commercial real estate executive, founder, and investor with more than 18 years of experience across office development, leasing, capital markets, and urban redevelopment. She has built her career revitalizing underperforming and transitional assets through disciplined underwriting, strategic design, and long-term value creation. 
 
In 2022, Jordan founded Fortem Voluntas LLC, a Chicago-based real estate investment platform focused on acquiring and repositioning high-potential urban assets with an emphasis on energy efficiency, sustainability, and responsible capital stewardship. The firm prioritizes strong fundamentals and durable investment strategies over rapid deal volume, reflecting Jordan’s experience navigating multiple real estate cycles. 
 
Previously, she served as Executive Vice President at Sterling Bay, where she oversaw leasing strategy across a national development portfolio exceeding 12 million square feet, including projects in Chicago’s Fulton Market and Lincoln Yards, as well as 545 WYN in Miami and 301 N. Crowdus in Dallas. 
 
Earlier in her career, Jordan was Senior Vice President at The Telos Group LLC, where she helped grow the firm from approximately 2 million to more than 25 million square feet under management. During this time, she led leasing and branding efforts for several iconic Chicago properties, including Willis Tower (Blackstone), 24 E. Washington (Brookfield), and 70 W. Madison (GEM Capital). 
 
Jordan began her career at US Equities (now CBRE), contributing to the post-financial-crisis repositioning of Willis Tower, including an 830,000-square-foot lease with United Airlines. Over the course of her career, she has completed more than 365 transactions totaling over $2.7 billion. 
 
Her leadership has been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business, which named her to 40 Under 40 (2019) and 20 in Their 20s (2015). She was also named Chicago Office Power Broker of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and Office Representative of the Year by the Greater Chicago Food Depository in 2012, 2013, and 2018, and is a graduate of the Crain’s Leadership Academy. 
 
Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts from ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø, serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences, and was born and raised in France before moving to the United States, bringing a global and cross-cultural perspective to leadership, investment, and urban development.

College of Arts and Sciences Commencement Address, Afternoon

Kelly Younger

(MA '96) • Screenwriter, TV writer, and Professor of English, Loyola Marymount University

Kelly Younger (MA ’96) is a screenwriter, television writer, playwright, story consultant, and Emmy-nominated producer whose work spans film, television, animation, and theater. He is currently a writer on the new installment of The Muppet Show, produced by Seth Rogen, directed by Alex Timbers, and starring Sabrina Carpenter. He wrote the Amazon feature film Candy Cane Lane, starring Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross and directed by Reginald Hudlin. The film premiered in December 2023 and became the largest domestically produced title in Amazon MGM Studios history. 

Younger maintains an ongoing creative partnership with The Muppets Studio, where he co-created and co-executive produced Muppets Now and co-wrote and co-executive produced Muppets Haunted Mansion, winner of the 2022 PGA Award for Outstanding Children’s Programming and recipient of four Emmy nominations, including one win. He also wrote Kermit’s “Kermencement” address to the University of Maryland Class of 2025, later featured in CNN’s “Year in Pictures” and Google’s “Year in Search.” 

As a member of the Disney Animation Story Trust, Younger contributed to Ralph Breaks the Internet, Frozen 2, Moana, and Raya and the Last Dragon, and participated in the Pixar Brain Trust on major releases including Coco and Toy Story 4. He has developed projects for Paramount Animation, Warner Animation Group, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination, Apple, Hulu, and Disney. He is currently co-writing a feature film for Skydance Animation, and developing an animated series with Academy Award winning director Bong Joon Ho. 

A produced playwright, Younger’s work has appeared Off-Broadway and internationally. His comedy Kalamazoo, co-written with Michelle Kholos Brooks, won the Reva Shiner Comedy Award and is published by Dramatists Play Service. 

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Younger earned a Master of Arts in Classics from ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø and a PhD in Literature and Drama from University College Dublin. He is a tenured professor of English at Loyola Marymount University. 

College of Arts and Sciences Commencement Address, Evening

Marcia Faustin

MD, FAAFP, CAQSM (BS '07) (PhD '08) · Associate Clinical Professor, Family and Sports Medicine; Co-Head Team Physician, University of California, Davis Athletics 

Marcia Faustin, MD, FAAFP, CAQSM (BS ’07) is a dual board-certified family and primary care sports medicine physician, educator, and national / international leader in athlete health and performance. She serves as Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor in the Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Family & Community Medicine at the University of California, Davis, where she provides comprehensive care and trains future physicians. She is also Co-Head Team Physician and Clinical Medical Director for UC Davis Division I Intercollegiate Athletics.

Faustin previously served as Co-Head Team Physician and Medical Director for the USA Gymnastics Women’s National and Elite Teams, supporting athletes on the international stage, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Her clinical expertise includes utilizing the biopsychosocial model of medicine to care for those with primary care issues, musculoskeletal injury management, diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, and athlete mental health. She has delivered keynote and invited presentations for the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, the NCAA, USA Gymnastics, and International Gymnastics Federation advancing dialogue on athlete safety, equity, and performance.

In addition to her clinical and teaching roles, Faustin serves on national committees focused on athlete health and diversity initiatives and is a reviewer for the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Recognized as a top doctor in sports medicine for many years, Faustin’s honors include induction into the ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø Athletics Hall of Fame, and multiple awards for leadership and mentorship.

Faustin earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and completed residency training in family medicine, serving as Chief Resident, followed by a fellowship in primary care sports medicine at the University of California, San Diego. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø, where she was an eight-time NCAA Division I high jump conference champion and the University’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year.